After a pair of snowshoers unexpectedly spent two cold nights awaiting rescue, Squamish Search and Rescue is warning outdoor enthusiasts to be prepared for changing winter conditions.
The two Vancouver residents headed out to Elfin Lakes in Garibaldi Provincial Park on a day trip on Tuesday, but got lost on the return trip and had to backtrack to the snow hut, according to Katy Chambers of Squamish Search and Rescue.
“They had friends who had successfully gone up to the cabin two days prior and one of them had been up there before and was familiar with the area under different conditions,” Chambers told The Squamish Chief. “They made it to Elfin shelter on Tuesday, they made it half way out and couldn’t find their tracks back and there’s no marked winter route right now.”
The men encountered chest-high snow, high winds and no marked route, Chambers said.
They made a good choice to turn back and stay at Elfin shelter, she added.
While the men had water and heat in the shelter, they didn’t have enough food to last the two days.
Two SAR members tried to ski into the cabin Thursday morning to retrieve the men, but had to abort the rescue, according to Chambers, due to fresh snow that made travel laborious and slow.
The rescue members, including Chambers, went back by helicopter later Thursday and the men were brought out safely.
“They were just very hungry. They were lucky they had a warm cabin to get to,” she said.
The incident is a good reminder not to depend on past trips or others’ accounts of treks, but instead to be aware of current and changing winter conditions, Chamber said.
“The elements don’t care what experiences you’ve had,” she said.
Recreationists should always be prepared to spend at least 24 hours outdoors when they head out, she said, even if the plan is for a day trip.
“They need to be on the ball every minute that they are out there of the changing conditions and be able to survive out there for awhile. Had this couple not been able to get back to the shelter, they didn’t have any overnight supplies.”
For more on Squamish Search and Rescue go to www.squamishsar.org/.
